Last Saturday, Mayor Mark Senter hosted a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony and Open House affair for River Park Square.
The former home of the G & G Grocery and Harvey Mart and 8 homes in the floodplain, “a blighted area” according to Mayor Mark Senter, the flood prone area is now “a beautiful park for family fun, children splashing in the water, reunions, concerts, meditation, festivals, Christmas Tree Lightings, parades, the Farmers’ Market and most importantly kids of all ages having fun in the sun.”
In 2006 the Plymouth Redevelopment Commission purchased the commercial property and in 2007 the City of Plymouth through then Mayor Gary Cook applied for FEMA funds to purchase homes in the floodplain On January 10, 2008 Plymouth experienced a 25 year flood and 4 days later the Representative Joe Donnelly presented a check in the amount of $200,000 from FEMA.
Demolition of the commercial and residential lots happened and in 2010 the Downtown Revitalization Committee was formed with members from the Park Board, Redevelopment Commission and PIDCO to begin the early plans for the new park.
During the Yellow River Festival in 2011 the announcement was made for the name of the new park. Town-hall meetings were held to get ideas for the park and the Troyer Group was hired to design the area. The 2013 Yellow River Festival hosted the groundbreaking for River Park Square and 55 weeks later Mayor Senter cut the ribbon across the main entrance.
Dignitaries on hand included Senator Joe Donnelly, Brian Spaulding from Congresswoman Jackie Walorski’s office and former Mayor Bonnie Yeazel.
Senter said, “In just a couple of years the second phase of the Greenway Trail will start at Founders Park, cross the Mighty Yellow with a new walking bridge and then enter River Park Square to circle around the park. Ultimately, there will be another bridge to land a hiker into the South Gateway.”
The Plymouth mayor said his next vision for phase two of the park would be a Veteran’s Plaza in the area of the Magnolia Tree.
Following the festivities Senter grilled and served free hot dogs and Cokes to visitors and shoppers and vendors from the Farmers’ Market.
Before the day was over Mayor Mark ventured into the splash pad to have some fun with the kids.